Razor-strop composition



(Specimens.)

J .H`ESBL. RAZOR STROP COMPOSITION.

No. 519,533. Patented May 8, 1894.

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' NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN HESEL, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

RAzoR-'sTRoP COMPOSITION.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 519,533, dated May 8,1894.

Application filed February 9,1894. Serial No. 499,573. (Specimens.)

To a/ZZ whom t may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN HESEL, of the city of St. Louis, VState ofMissouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inRazor-Strop' Compositions, of which the following is a full, clear, andexact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,forming a parthereof.

My invention has relation to razor-strops and compositions for coveringthe same andl consists in the novel features to be more fully set forthin the specification and pointed out in the claim.

In the drawings, Figure lis a perspective view of a strop with thecomposition adhering thereto. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectionof the same, and Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line x-x of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, l represents a sui/table stiff backing ofwood or similar material for the strap 2, the medium portion of thelatter being separated from the backing by the terminal transversestrips 3 for the purpose of makingy said medium portion of the stropyielding when the razor is passed over the same. The strop projects oneither end of the backing so that the device becomes thoroughly pliableand easily handled. 4 represents the coating of the adhering honingcomposition to be now described.

My obj ect is to prepare a composition which when properly spread on thestrap will serve to sharpen the razor and put a fine edge on the samewithout the necessity of previous honing and grinding of the blade. Thebase of the composition is acombination of emery iiour, paraffin wax,castor oil, and a suitable coloring material.

In practice the ingredients forming the commercial article are asenumerated below and with their respective proportions: emery flour, one(l)'pound; crocus Mart-is, (crocus of Mars,) one (l) pound; paraffinwax, one and one-half (l) pounds; powdered alum, one-half ounce; castoroil, one-fifth ounce; powdered rosin, one-eighth ounce.

As stated above, the base of the composition is emery flour, paraffinwax, castor oil and a suitable coloring material. The paraffin waxserves as a carrier and adhesive for the remaining elements, theinherent and characteristic stiffness of the wax being counteracted by asuitable proportion of castor oil.

The elnery flour ot' course serves as the principal sharpening andhoning agentybut I have found in practicethat the admixture of asuitable proportionof crocus of mars not only imparts a desirable colorto the composition, but the finely divided oxide of iron composing thecrocus imparts a finished edge to the blade so that'no further honing orstropping is required. The alum and resin give to the strop a drawingelect, that is, i

a tendency to cause the blade to adhere to the strop as the razor isdrawn over the same, said ingredients imparting to the surface of thecomposition a peculiar elasticity and softness.

In making the composition the ingredients are mixed in a suitable ironvessel and 'heated sufficiently to effect a boiling and thoroughlystirred forvabout thirty minutes. It may be poured while liquid intosuitable molds and sold in any convenient form or sticks. When applyingthe same to the strop, the composition is melted and poured over thestrop and then evenly spread with a heated blade of a large sized knifeor in any convenient manner. When thus spread on the strop it adheresfirmly to it, and may be used fora considerable time without renewing.

It is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the exactproportions herein stated, but the same may be departed from in ameasure, so long as the identity of the comoughly heated and intermixed,substantially as set forth. Y

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of twoWitnesses'. j v JOHN HESEL. Witnesses:

JAMES J. ODoNoHon, EMIL STAREK.

